Two decades ago, today’s artificial intelligence technology that we take for granted would have been considered wild, unbelievable science fiction. While we still haven’t mastered things like flying cars, the evolution of life science with artificial intelligence driving the wheel has shifted significantly since the Human Genome Project in the ‘90s.
The revolution that followed this incredible innovative research has completely changed how scholars approach the study of biological capabilities. Now, there is an entirely new world of knowledge still waiting to be investigated. But artificial intelligence has already impacted the world on cellular levels in so many unique ways, with many more to come!
What Does Life Science Encompass?
In grade schools, life science is simplified to include the basic biology of living things. As we move into higher education, it becomes apparent that this field of science is really not that simple.
At the more complex stage, “life science” encompasses research studies in fields such as:
● Biotechnology
● Pharmaceuticals
● Biomedical devices
● Research and development
● Biomedical technology
● Food processing
● Environmental sciences
● Life systems technology
● Nutraceuticals
● Cosmeceuticals
Scholars who enter the field with a “biology” or “life science” focus find out quickly that they must decide on a niche in which to hone their talents specifically.
Starting With the Human Genome Project
Taking a project as complicated as the Human Genome experiment and condensing it into a summary doesn’t do it justice. However, it is described as a publicly funded project in which researchers focused on determining the human genomes by following the entire DNA sequence in the body. Many academic and non-academic skeptics were sure it couldn’t be done, but the scholars beat their fifteen year goal by accomplishing the entire job in thirteen years.
The success of this project was so advantageous that its effects are still being felt throughout the world. The first genetic and physical map of the human and mouse genomes was created, and the sequencing of the human genomes was complete. The field of life science as it was known would never be the same.
Unique Ways That AI Is Changing Life Science
Human health through artificial intelligence innovations is now undergoing an overhaul on levels never seen before. AI has changed how physicians approach their craft and how individuals take care of their own health. Life science has evolved with AI technologies such as:
● Personalized prescriptions - With a little bit of information from the physician about the patient, artificial intelligence programs can use the health records to offer a treatment plan personalized to the individual in question.
● Manufacturing and discovering drugs - Human researchers have already perfected the basic foundation of what is necessary for drug development analysis. With AI programs, this process is much faster, as the software scans datasets, cross-references its findings, and gives feedback that the scientist can move forward with.
● Getting new treatments to the public faster - Analyzing and synthesizing data is a cumbersome, time-consuming process. AI software programs make this much faster, letting companies get their treatment services and products to the market earlier and giving more people the chance to be helped.
● Making diagnoses earlier - There is a lot that goes into making a diagnosis, and much of it can’t be helped by the physician. If they have incomplete medical records or information with errors in it, it complicates their ability to make a correct and timely diagnosis. But AI software has the capacity to put all of a patient’s previous health records together, access and assess their issues and symptoms, and use pre-set algorithms to suggest therapy or diagnosis.
These and so many other unique artificial intelligence innovations have made the field of life science an exciting and quickly evolving arena in academics today.